Victoria, Australia bans single-use plastics from February 1
From 1 February 2023, the Government of Victoria, Australia, bans the sale and supply of single-use plastic items, including:
plastic straw
Plastic cutlery
Plastic plates
Plastic drink stirrers and sticks
Polystyrene food service items and beverage containers
cotton swab.
The ban also includes plastic items made from conventional, degradable and compostable materials, including bioplastics.
What is the reason for the ban?
Reducing plastic pollution is a key part of the Victorian Government's circular economy plan.
Many single-use plastic items pollute recycling. They can often be easily avoided or replaced with reusable products.
By banning problematic single-use plastics, plastic pollution will be reduced.
Single use plastic:
Accounts for a third of the waste in our environment
Difficult and expensive to clean
Usually only used for a few minutes, but stays in the environment for a long time
Polluting the environment, harming wildlife, polluting our food and water.
